British scientists create human corneas using 3D printer

The shape of a cornea is formed on a 3D bio-printer in about 10 minutes, and stem cells grow on it to create a human cornea -- although a new bio-ink that contains stem cells will likely speed the process up even more.

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HealthDay News

Researchers in Britain are refining a technique to 3D-print human corneas, but say it will likely be a few years before they can start using them in transplants. Photo by Laitr Keiows/Wikimedia Commons

WEDNESDAY, May 30, 2018 -- These days, medical advances seem to be happening in the blink of an eye. Now, British scientists report they have created human corneas using 3D-printing technology.

The researchers said they hope this breakthrough will one day ensure an unlimited supply of corneas. Human corneas are now in short supply. Yet, there are 10 million people around the world who need them to prevent blindness.

These millions need surgery to prevent corneal blindness caused by diseases such as trachoma, an infectious eye disorder.

Another 5 million people already suffer total blindness from corneal scarring caused by burns, lacerations, abrasion or disease, the researchers added.

The cornea, the outermost layer of the eye, plays a vital role in focusing, the study authors explained.

The new process uses a simple, low-cost 3D bio-printer to form the shape of a human cornea. It takes less than 10 minutes to print. The researchers then showed that stem cells on the printed cornea grew, creating a human cornea.

"Many teams across the world have been chasing the ideal bio-ink to make this process feasible," said lead researcher Che Connon, a professor of tissue engineering at Newcastle University in England.

"Our unique gel -- a combination of alginate and collagen -- keeps the stem cells alive whilst producing a material which is stiff enough to hold its shape, but soft enough to be squeezed out the nozzle of a 3D printer," he explained in a university news release.

The researchers are now ready to use bio-ink containing stem cells, which will allow printing tissues without having to worry about growing the cells separately, Connon said.

Connon's team also showed it could create a cornea that matches a patient's unique specifications.